Monday, December 03, 2007

The United States Chamber of Commerce has produced a truly terrifying short film to advocate for swift enactment climate change legislation. In it, Southern California's climate has apparently crashed to frigid conditions, and the survivors, living in a world depleted of oil and without viable alternative technologies, are left to run along abandoned freeways for mobility and for warmth. It's like "The Day After Tomorrow," but there are no Army helicopters flying in to the rescue at the end: this is a world out of gas.

I guess the voiceover actor and title copywriter wanted to tone down the horror-flick footage, though, since their message contradicts everything you see in the video. Nevertheless, the US Chamber provides a handy link for us to write to our Senators. Again, their version is full of errors, so I've drafted up a handy actual version for you to send:

THEIR version (don't use - you'll look like a bozo!)

I am writing this letter to urge you to oppose S. 2191, the “America’s Climate Security Act of 2007.” S. 2191 is a flawed bill that, if passed, would have a negative impact on every American’s daily life. This bill will cause millions of Americans to lose their jobs, businesses to move overseas, double electricity bills and cost Americans trillions of dollars in compliance costs. S. 2191 does not recognize climate change as a global issue, fails to promote the technology needed to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and does not address the potential problems it would cause for American businesses.

The potential economic consequences of S. 2191 are striking. Earlier this month, Dr. Anne Smith at CRA International testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and predicted that by 2050, S. 2191 could cause the following:

1. Up to 3.4 million American jobs lost;2. $1 trillion decrease in GDP;3. Increase in wholesale electricity prices by over 120 percent;4. Up to $6 trillion cost to American consumers to comply with carbon constraints; and5. Reduction in household spending of over $2,600 per household.

S. 2191 also contains serious flaws. First, it does not fully address the fact that climate change will have to be an international effort. The domestic emissions constraints this bill imposes, without long-term cutbacks in greenhouse gas emissions from other nations – particularly developing nations – will not only fail to make the required impact on levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, but could also irreparably harm our country’s ability to compete in the global market. Any long-term climate change action plan absolutely must include developing nations such as China and India.

Second, S. 2191 does not promote greenhouse gas reduction technology at a fast enough pace to compensate for the bill’s aggressive emissions constraints. There is little funding for technology research and development in the bill, and because of this, carbon capture and sequestration technology will not be cheaply or readily available by the time the caps are in place and begin to decrease annually.

Finally, S. 2191 does not adequately preserve American jobs and the domestic economy. The bill requires American companies to undertake dramatic emissions reductions regardless of whether its economic competitors do the same, at least prior to the year 2019. By then, much of the United States’ energy-intensive industry could be gone, having either shut down or moved overseas. The chemical industry has already largely moved overseas because it cannot compete in the world market while complying with domestic energy constraints and emissions controls; how many other American businesses will be forced to follow suit?

For these reasons, I ask you to oppose S. 2191. Unless the bill can be modified to address the issues outlined above, it will not only be harmful to the American economy, but also ineffective in addressing current climate issues.

I am writing this letter to urge you to support S. 2191, the “America’s Climate Security Act of 2007.” S. 2191 is a much-needed bill that, if passed, would address the enormous economic risks posed by greenhouse gas pollution. This bill could cause millions of Americans to gain new jobs, grow new businesses, and save tens of trillions of dollars in energy and natural disaster costs. S. 2191 recognizes climate change as a global issue for which America bears substantial responsibility. Its market-based cap-and-trade mechanism will promote the technology needed to reduce greenhouse gas pollution while creating tremendous opportunities for American businesses.

The potential economic consequences of climate change are striking. By 2050, climate change could cause the following:

S. 2191 is a promising way to avert these consequences, and it also contains serious benefits to the American economy. First, it recognizes the fact that climate change will have to be an international effort with American leadership. The domestic emissions constraints this bill imposes will demonstrate the viability and necessity of long-term cutbacks in greenhouse gas emissions from other nations. The investments that this bill will incentivise could also establish our country’s prominence as a leader in the rapidly-growing global market for "green" technology. Ultimately, any long-term climate change action plan absolutely must include developing nations such as China and India, and this bill is a necessary first step toward a viable international agreement.

Second, S. 2191 will promote greenhouse gas reduction technology at rapid pace: the bill’s aggressive emissions constraints will drive the power of the free market instead of weak, expensive subsidies to promote this important new industry domestically. There is little government funding for technology research and development in the bill. Investors, not politicians, will decide whether projects like carbon capture and sequestration technology are worth pursuing.

Clearly, S. 2191 will preserve American jobs and bolster new industries in the domestic economy. The bill ensures stability to American companies while its economic competitors abroad are left to fend for themselves in the face of increasing climate risk, at least until those nations also adopt meaningful climate change legislation. By then, much of the United States’ new, lean, and innovative industrial power will have already reestablished itself here. It's true that some old, lumbering industries that can't adapt to the changing conditions of the 21st century may try their luck by moving overseas, but good riddance. This bill gives us the framework we need to grow a more innovative and more powerful economy here.

For these reasons, I ask you to support S. 2191. Unless the bill is weakened to pander to the dinosaurs of our industrial past, this bill will not only be beneficial to the American economy, but also effective in addressing the current climate crisis.

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